World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-fourth session
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AGENDA1. ORGANIZATION OF THE SESSION 1.1 Opening of the session 1.2 Adoption of the agenda 1.3 Working arrangements for the session
4.2 Reports of hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical disturbances and related flooding during 2011 4.3 Report from Hurricane Hunters
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season was marked by above average tropical cyclone activity with the formation of 19 tropical storms, of which 7 became hurricanes (Figure 1 and Table 1). Four of the hurricanes strengthened into major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). The numbers of tropical storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes were each above the long-term average (1981-2010) of 12, 6, and 3 respectively. In terms of the accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index, 2011 had 137% of the long-term median ACE. Similar to 2010, there was a tendency for a middle-latitude trough to become established along the United States east coast forcing many of the tropical cyclones to turn northward well east of the United States eastern seaboard (Figure 2). Irene was the exception, and was the only hurricane to affect the United States in 2011. Cindy, Franklin, and Jose were short-lived tropical storms that formed in the subtropical Atlantic and moved northeastward over open waters. Their history details are not included here. Hurricane specialists at the National Hurricane Center were very fortunate to gather NOAA buoy data in real time when several cyclones moved over these buoys. In the individual storm descriptions, all dates and times are based on Universal Coordinate Time (UTC). For all operationally designated tropical or subtropical cyclones in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issues an “official” forecast of the cyclone’s center location and maximum 1-min surface wind speed. Forecasts are issued every 6 h, and contain projections valid 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after the forecast’s nominal initial time (0000, 0600, 1200, or 1800 UTC) At the conclusion of the season, forecasts are evaluated by comparing the projected positions and intensities to the corresponding post-storm derived “best track” positions and intensities for each cyclone. A forecast is included in the verification only if the system is classified in the final best track as a tropical (or subtropical cyclone at both the forecast’s initial time and at the projection’s valid time. All other stages of development (e.g., tropical wave, [remnant] low, extratropical) are excluded. For verification purposes, forecasts associated with special advisories do not supersede the original forecast issued for that synoptic time; rather, the original forecast is retained. All verifications in this report include the depression stage. The 2011 official forecast errors for the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific are included in Figures 5 and 8, respectively. Tropical Storm Arlene An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated a low pressure system in the Bay of Campeche on June 28, and measured tropical-storm-force winds. On this basis, it is estimated that a tropical storm formed about 300 miles east-southeast of Tampico, Mexico. Arlene moved west-northwestward and had its maximum sustained winds of 65 mph when the storm made landfall near Cabo Rojo, Mexico at 1300 UTC June 30. Arlene dissipated over the mountains of Central Mexico the next day. Tamesi, in the state of Tamaulipas, reported 13.73 inches of rain in 24 h, and heavy rains also occurred over extreme southern Texas. Media reports indicate that 18 people died due to direct effects of Arlene. Most of the deaths were due to freshwater floods and mudslides in eastern Mexico. Tropical Storm Bret Bret formed from an area of disturbed weather associated with a frontal zone on July 17 about 70 miles north of Grand Bahama Island, and reached its peak intensity of 70 mph on July 18. The cyclone weakened slowly as it moved northeastward, and dissipated on July 23 about 490 mi south-southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland. There was an unofficial report of a 48-mph wind gust from Abaco Island in the northwestern Bahamas on July 18. Tropical Storm Don A tropical wave entered the Caribbean Sea on July23, producing heavy squalls in Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands. The wave continued westward and the associated thunderstorm activity became better organized in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. A tropical depression formed early on July 27 about 60 miles northeast of Cancun, Mexico and became a tropical storm later in the day. Don moved across the Gulf of Mexico, where a relatively dry air mass prevented significant intensification. The cyclone reached50 mph, but Don weakened to a tropical depression when it made landfall in Texas around 0230 UTC 30 July along the Padre Island National Seashore. After landfall, Don quickly dissipated near Alice, Texas. Only light rainfall occurred in Texas. Tropical Storm Emily Air Force reconnaissance aircraft data indicate that a tropical storm formed from a vigorous tropical wave on August 2 about 50 miles northwest of Martinique. Emily moved west-northwestward and passed about 200 miles south of Puerto Rico during August 2 and 3. The cyclone moved over Hispaniola on August 4 and degenerated into an open wave. The remnants of Emily moved west-northwestward through the Bahamas and regenerated into a tropical storm on August 6 near Grand Bahamas Island. The cyclone turned northeastward and degenerated into a remnant low on August 7. Heavy rains and high winds associated with Emily occurred over portions of the Lesser Antilles. The largest rainfall totals in Puerto Rico were generally over the eastern part of the island, with Caguas reporting the largest amount of 8.22 inches (209 mm). A total of 21 inches (528 mm) was reported in Neiba in the Dominican Republic resulting in three direct deaths. Tropical Storm Harvey A tropical depression formed on August 19 about 100 miles northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the border of Nicaragua and Honduras. The depression became a tropical storm and moved just to the north of Honduras and the Bay Islands, and then reached a peak intensity of 65mphat landfall near Dangriga, Belize at 1730 UTC August 20. Harvey weakened and moved over the Bay of Campeche on August 21, when it re-intensified slightly. The storm made a second landfall around 0200 UTC on August 22 near Punta Roca Partida, Mexico and then dissipated over high terrain. High winds and heavy rain were noted in Dangriga during the storm, but there were no reports of damage or casualties there. In Mexico, three people were killed in San Lucas Zoquiapam, Oaxaca during a landslide. Harvey caused significant floods, and 334 homes were damaged in Veracruz. Hurricane Irene A reconnaissance aircraft investigated a tropical wave approaching the Lesser Antilles for several hours on 20 August, finding surface winds of 45-50 mph but no well-defined closed low-level circulation. Just before the conclusion of the mission, the aircraft was able to identify a circulation near the southern edge of the convection about 140 miles east of Martinique, marking the formation of a tropical storm early on August 21. Irene moved over St. Croix around 2300 UTC that day, when a period of light winds associated with the center was observed, and in fact an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft was able to depart St. Croix for its mission during that period of calm. Irene became a hurricane while moving over Puerto Rico early on August 22, but the hurricane-force winds remained over water and did not affect the island. Irene became a category 3hurricane with a peak intensity of 120 mph early on August 24, when it was centered between Mayaguana and Grand Inagua in the Bahamas. The hurricane crossed Acklins and Crooked Islands near 1500 UTC August 24, and these islands likely experienced category 3 hurricane conditions. Irene weakened a little bit before moving over Long Island around 0000 UTC August 25. Irene’s eye passed between Exuma and Cat Island around 0600 UTC 25 August, crossed Eleuthera a few hours later, and then reached the Abaco Islands in the northwestern Bahamas around 1800 UTC August 25. By then Irene had weakened further, and these islands probably experienced category 2 hurricane conditions. Irene moved northward and made landfall near Cape Lookout, North Carolina at 1200 UTC August 27 with an intensity of 85 mph, producing category 1 hurricane-force winds within a swath primarily to the east of the center over the North Carolina sounds and the Outer Banks. Irene then continued north-northeastward, just offshore of the Delmarva peninsula, and made another landfall very near Atlantic City, New Jersey, at Brigantine Island, at 0935 UTC 28 August. Although Irene’s intensity at the New Jersey landfall was 70 mph, the storm’s strongest winds were confined to the waters east of the center. Irene continued moving north-northeastward and the center moved over Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York around 1300 UTC 28 August, and over Manhattan, New York City about 1 hour later. By then the cyclone’s strongest winds of65 mph were occurring over water east of the center. Irene moved north-northeastward over the northeastern United States and became extratropical near the New Hampshire/Vermont border early on August 29. The cyclone was absorbed on 30 August over northeastern Canada by a frontal system. There were unconfirmed reports of wind gusts of 115mph in Moss Town, Exuma and in Arthur’s Town on Cat Island around 0600 UTC 25 August. An automatic weather station in Grand Bahama reported sustained winds of 91 mph at 0100 UTC 26 August. Irene produced copious amounts of rain in Puerto Rico, with a maximum of 22.05 inches in Gurabo Abajo, which caused major flooding in the northeastern portion of the island. In addition, Irene produced a large swath of 5 to 10 inches of rain along the east coast of the United States from North Carolina northward. The maximum rainfall amount observed was 15.74 inches in Bayboro, North Carolina. Irene was a large hurricane that generated high waves and storm surge over a large portion of the western Atlantic basin for several days. The highest storm surge value reported by a tide gage was 7.09 ft on August 28 at Oregon Inlet Marina, NC. Post storm surveys suggest that a storm surge of 8 to 11 ft occurred within portions of Pamlico Sound. Storm surge values between 4 and 6 ft were measured along the coast from New Jersey northward. Irene spawned several tornadoes along its path over the eastern United States. The strongest was an EF2 tornado in Columbia, North Carolina, destroying a few manufactured homes. Preliminary reports indicate that Irene was responsible for 49 direct deaths: 5 in the Dominican Republic, 3 in Haiti, and 41 in the United States. Surprisingly, there were no reported deaths in the Bahamas, where Irene was the strongest. For the United States, 6 deaths are attributed to storm surge/waves, or rip currents, 14 to wind, including from falling trees, and 21 to rainfall-induced floods. Surge and high waves damaged homes in portions of the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Damage from rains was extensive across Puerto Rico. In the mainland United States, Irene caused widespread damage to homes and felled trees from North Carolina northward, and produced extensive power outages. In North Carolina, the flow from the sound to the ocean damaged Highway 12, cutting several breaches. The most severe surge damage occurred between Oregon Inlet and Cape Hatteras, but significant storm surge damage also occurred along southern Chesapeake Bay. In the Hampton Roads and along coastal sections of the Delmarva Peninsula from Ocean City, Maryland southward, storm surge flooding was comparable to that from Hurricane Isabel of 2003. Since the strongest winds were over water to the east of Irene’s center, New York City escaped severe damage. Nonetheless, a storm surge of 3-6 ft caused hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage in New York City and Long Island. Irene’s main impactin the northeastern United States, however, was from rainfall. Catastrophic floods occurred in New York and New England, especially in central and southern Vermont. These rains caused devastating flash flooding across many mountain valleys with some record breaking flood stages on larger rivers. In the United States, the Insurances Services Office reported that the hurricane caused an estimated $3.5 billion in losses. Doubling this figure, to account for uninsured losses, results in a preliminary U. S. damage estimate of $ 7billion. Hurricane Katia A tropical depression formed about 430 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands on August 29 and became a tropical storm the next day. Katia moved westward and reached hurricane intensity on September 1 about 1350 miles east of the Leeward Islands. The cyclone began a period of rapid intensification on September 4 and around 1235 UTC that day, the hurricane’s eye passed very near NOAA buoy 41044, which recorded a wind gust of 108 mph. Katia reached its peak intensity of 140 mph about 470 n mi south of Bermuda. The hurricane turned toward the east-northeast and became a powerful extratropical low about 290 miles south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. The storm moved along the northern coast of Scotland on September 12 bringing hurricane-force wind gusts to much of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England. The extratropical cyclone caused widespread power outages across much of Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland due to downed trees and power lines. Unnamed tropical storm As part of its routine post-season review, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) occasionally identifies from new data or meteorological interpretation a previously undesignated tropical or subtropical cyclone. The NHC re-analysis of 2011 has concluded that a short-lived low that passed between Bermuda and Nova Scotia from 31 August to 3 September briefly had sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical storm. This unnamed tropical storm formed on September 1, about 335miles north of Bermuda and moved slowly and erratically. The storm accelerated northeastward on 2 September and became extratropical on September 3 about 355 miles south-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Tropical Storm Lee A tropical depression formed on September 2 about 220 mi southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River and moved slowly northward, reaching tropical storm status later in the day. Leebegan to take on the appearance of a subtropical cyclone with expanding radius of maximum winds and relatively weak convection near the center and it was then classified as a subtropical storm early on the September 3. Lee reached a maximum intensity of 60 mph on September4 and meandered just off the south-central coast of Louisiana during the next 12-18 h. Lee made landfall around 1030 UTC September 4, along the coast of southern Louisiana, about 10 miles south-southeast of Intracoastal City with maximum winds of 45 mph. After landfall, Lee became nearly stationary over south-central Louisiana and merged with an unusually strong cold front September 5. Numerous oil platforms over the northern Gulf of Mexico reported tropical-storm-force winds in association with Lee. The highest wind observation was 60 mph at the Mississippi Canyon 802 (42362) platform. The anemometers on these oil rigs are, however, quite elevated. Sustained tropical-storm-force winds were reported near the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and extreme eastern Texas during the time Lee was classified as a tropical or subtropical cyclone. The highest 1-min sustained wind report from a land station was 50 mph with a gust to 54 mph at a University of Alabama mesonet site on Dauphin Island, Alabama on September 3. Strong onshore winds from Lee along the northern Gulf Coast produced elevated water levels from Louisiana eastward to the Florida Panhandle for several days. The highest storm surge reported was 4.67 ft at Amerada Pass, Louisiana. The highest surge in Florida or Alabama was 4.40 ft at a National Ocean Service tide gauge at the Coast Guard station in Mobile Bay. Rainfall amounts of 10-15 inches were reported over a large area along the northern Gulf Coast from southeastern Louisiana eastward across southern Mississippi and southern Alabama. A large swath of 7-10-inch rains with isolated maximum amounts of 10 to 14 inches also occurred north of the cyclone’s center path across south-central Mississippi, northern Alabama, extreme northwestern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee. Moisture from Lee and its remnants spread northeastward along a frontal boundary that became stationary across the Mid-Atlantic States and southern New York. This produced a second area of extremely heavy rainfall from eastern Virginia northward across Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southern New York, and portions of southern New England during 5-10 September. Lee and its remnants produced 46 tornadoes, mainly across the southeastern United States. Lee was responsible for three direct deaths during its time as a (sub) tropical cyclone: two from rough surf and one from inland flooding. Media reports indicate that flooding largely related to the remnants of Lee was responsible for at least 12 additional deaths in the eastern United States; seven people in Pennsylvania, four in Virginia, one in Maryland, and one in Georgia. Nearly all of these deaths occurred when individuals tried to cross flooded roadways in vehicles or were swept away in flood waters. Preliminary damage estimates indicate that Lee produced at least $300 million in insured losses in the U.S. In addition, media reports indicate the flooding from the remnants of Lee produced more than $1 billion in damage in the mid-Atlantic and northeast United States. Hurricane Maria A tropical depression formed on September 6 about 800 miles west-southwest of the southern Cape Verde Islands and moved quickly west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph, reaching tropical storm intensity later in the day. However, the low-level circulation lost definition, and Maria dissipated as a tropical cyclone even though it was still producing sustained winds of 50 mph. The remnants of Maria approached the Lesser Antilles late on 9 September and when a new center developed on September 10 about 45 miles east-southeast of Antigua, Maria again became a tropical storm. Maria passed to the north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and reached hurricane intensity on September 15 while centered about 155 miles northwest of Bermuda. Maria accelerated northeastward, weakened, and made landfall around 1830 UTC 16 September near Cape St. Mary’s on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, with maximum winds of 70 mph. The cyclone’s circulation was absorbed by a frontal system shortly thereafter. During 9-11 September, Maria produced sustained winds of50 mph at La Desirade, located just to the east of Guadeloupe. Tropical-storm-force wind gusts were observed on Antigua, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, Barbuda, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Croix, and St. Thomas. Widespread rainfall totals of 5 to 11 inches were observed in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Nate Nate formed from an area of low pressure along the southern end of a frontal system on September 8 about 160 miles north of Villahermosa, Mexico. Although dry air behind the original front slowed the intensification process, Nate reached hurricane strength with 75 mph winds. However, the slow forward motion of the cyclone over the shallow waters of the Bay of Campeche caused significant upwelling resulting in Nate to weaken. The cyclone then moved westward over the central Bay of Campeche as a tropical storm and crossed the coast of northeastern Mexico near Barra de Tecolutla at 1600 UTC September 10. Nate dissipated shortly after landfall. There were four direct deaths and one indirect death associated with Nate. Ten workers were forced to abandon their lifeboat on 8 September after evacuating the Trinity II oil rig. Seven of the ten men were rescued, but one later died from an unknown cause. The bodies of the three remaining workers were eventually recovered. A nine-year-old child was killed by lightning in Veracruz. Hurricane Ophelia A tropical depression formed about 1500 miles east of the Lesser Antilles on 20 September and became a tropical storm as it moved westward over the tropical Atlantic. However, southwesterly wind shear increased and Ophelia degenerated into a remnant low pressure system on September 25 east of the northern Leeward Islands. A surface center redeveloped within the lingering convection and a tropical depression formed about 200 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands on 27 September. Ophelia became a major hurricane on September 30well north of the Leeward Islands and reached its peak intensity of 140 mph on October 2 after passing near Bermuda. The wind field associated with the major hurricane was so compact that winds on Bermuda did not even reach tropical storm force. Ophelia weakened rapidly and lost its tropical characteristics just before it made landfall over southern Newfoundland around 1000 UTC 3 October. The eye of Ophelia passed directly over NOAA buoy 41049 at 0830 UTC 1 October. The buoy reported a maximum 1-min wind of 97 mph with a gust to 106 mph in the northern eye wall and a minimum pressure of 952.8 mb. Hurricane Phillippe A tropical depression formed from a tropical wave on September 24 about 260 miles south of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and strengthened to a tropical storm later in the day. After a period of weakening, deep convection re-developed near the center and Philippe re-strengthened to a tropical storm later that day. Philippe turned toward the southwest and became a hurricane on October 4 about 545miles northeast of the Leeward Islands. The cyclone weakened again due to wind shear and made a slow but sharp turn toward the northwest and north over the western Atlantic. The vertical shear abated while Philippe turned northward, and the cyclone intensified one final time, becoming a hurricane about 460miles south-southeast of Bermuda on October 6. The hurricane turned northeastward later that day, and reached its maximum intensity of 90 mph. Philippe began to weaken on October 7 and later became an extratropical cyclone. Hurricane Rina A tropical depression formed just off the coast of Nicaragua on October 23, moved very slowly northward and became a tropical storm. Rinathen rapidly intensified over the deep warm waters of the western Caribbean and became a major hurricane, with a peak intensity of 115 mph on October 26about250 mi east-southeast of Chetumal, Mexico. Fortunately, the cyclone weakened before making landfall near Playa del Carmen, with an intensity of 60 mph near 0300 UTC October 28. The next day, the center of Rina emerged into the Yucatan Channel and dissipated near the western tip of Cuba. Tropical Storm Sean A frontal low that caused heavy snow in Colorado on November 3 moved off the U.S east coast the next day. A subtropical storm formed from this low on November 8 about 445 miles southwest of Bermuda. Sean moved erratically and quickly made a transition into a tropical storm later that day when the convection became concentrated near the center. It reached its peak intensity of 65 mph on November 10 before Sean turned toward the north-northeast and merged with a cold front. Directory: pages -> prog -> www -> tcp -> documents documents -> Review of the ra IV hurricane operational plan documents -> Cyclone programme documents -> World meteorological organization technical document documents -> World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-third session documents -> Review of the past hurricane season documents -> Ra IV hurricane committee thirty-fourth session ponte vedra beach, fl, usa documents -> World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-second session documents -> World meteorological organization ra IV hurricane committee thirty-fifth session documents -> English only review of the tropical cyclone operational plan for the south pacific and south-east indian ocean documents -> Global tropical cyclone season Download 0.94 Mb. Share with your friends:
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